Stocks Tack On More Gains, But Volume Remains Soft

Stocks pushed ahead in afternoon trading Friday. Most major averages have recovered nearly all losses from the prior session.

The Nasdaq rallied 1.7%. Bellwethers Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN) and Google (GOOG) were all higher. The S&P 500 rose 1.5%, putting it back near resistance at its 200-day line. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 1.4% with all but one component higher. Dupont was the only decliner. The chemical firm cut its full-year profit outlook. Despite the improvement in the major averages, volume was tracking slightly lower across the board.

Questcor International (QCOR) extended its gain to 7% and scored a record high. The stock is up more than 40% since clearing a 31.51 double-bottom buy point Oct. 10. Questcor makes products for hard-to-treat medical conditions. The company has delivered accelerating earnings and sales growth in recent quarters. But its main Acthar multiple sclerosis drug accounts for nearly all of it annual revenue.

Papa John's International (PZZA) ramped up 4% in heavy trading. Despite market volatility, the stock held strong recently. It's still 10% past a 34.85 buy point cleared Oct. 27. Last month, the company beat views with a 38% jump in Q3 earnings. That marked its biggest gain in nine quarters.

Copa Holdings (CPA) dropped 3% to its 200-day moving average in fast trade. The Panamanian airline reported that its load factor, a metric representing the percentage of seating capacity actually filled, fell 5.5% in November from year-ago levels. The stock is working on a first-stage pattern after resetting its base count in October.

Stocks pushed ahead in afternoon trading Friday. Most major averages have recovered nearly all losses from the prior session.

The Nasdaq rallied 1.7%. Bellwethers Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN) and Google (GOOG) were all higher. The S&P 500 rose 1.5%, putting it back near resistance at its 200-day line. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 1.4% with all but one component higher. Dupont was the only decliner. The chemical firm cut its full-year profit outlook. Despite the improvement in the major averages, volume was tracking slightly lower across the board.

Questcor International (QCOR) extended its gain to 7% and scored a record high. The stock is up more than 40% since clearing a 31.51 double-bottom buy point Oct. 10. Questcor makes products for hard-to-treat medical conditions. The company has delivered accelerating earnings and sales growth in recent quarters. But its main Acthar multiple sclerosis drug accounts for nearly all of it annual revenue.

Papa John's International (PZZA) ramped up 4% in heavy trading. Despite market volatility, the stock held strong recently. It's still 10% past a 34.85 buy point cleared Oct. 27. Last month, the company beat views with a 38% jump in Q3 earnings. That marked its biggest gain in nine quarters.

Copa Holdings (CPA) dropped 3% to its 200-day moving average in fast trade. The Panamanian airline reported that its load factor, a metric representing the percentage of seating capacity actually filled, fell 5.5% in November from year-ago levels. The stock is working on a first-stage pattern after resetting its base count in October.

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Select market data is provided by Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services. Price and Volume data is delayed 20 minutes unless otherwise noted, is believed accurate but is not warranted or guaranteed by Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services and is subject to Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services terms. All times are Eastern United States. *Reflects real-time index prices.